My Chinese tutor and I got a bit philosophical last week. It began when we were discussing vocabulary that had to do with having enough time. (Look for this in a future post). She taught me the idiom in the second sentence, then asked me this question:

首先，用全部的心愛神，也愛我的鄰人跟我自己一樣。

(首先)，(用)(全部)(的)(心)(愛)(神)❸，

(in the first place, first of all), (to use)(whole, entire)(adjective marker)(heart)(to love)(God)

…..(也)(愛)(我的)(鄰人)❹(跟)(我)(自己)(一樣)

……(ㄧㄝˇ)(ㄞˋ)(ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜ˙)(ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ)(ㄍㄣ)(ㄨㄛˇ)(ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ)(ㄧˊ ㄧㄤˋ)

……(yě)(ài)(wǒ de.)(lín rén)(gēn)(wǒ)(zì jǐ)(yí yàng)

……(also)(to love)(my)(neighbor)(as)(my)(self)(same)

First of all, love God with my whole heart, and also love my neighbor as myself.

Do you have a life philosophy? Maybe you can use one of the sentences below to write your own in the comments. 🙂

Notes:

❶ 個 is added in this sentence because I lean towards learning for conversation and my tutor said it sounds better to include that measure word when saying it.

❷ 美妙 ㄇㄟˇ ㄇㄧㄠˋ (měi miào) and 美好 ㄇㄟˇ ㄏㄠˇ (měi hǎo) both mean “wonderful,” but 美妙 is used for abilities and skills (such as singing, dancing), while 美好 is more for situations and relationships. The difference is not enough to confuse the conversation, but using them correctly will make you sound better.

❸ 上帝 ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧˋ (shàng dì) is another common word for “God,” however my tutor prefers 神 ㄕㄣˊ (shén) because it gives more of an impression of being interactive and more personal, whereas she the imagery of 上帝 is more of an emperor that sits apart haughtily.

❹ There are several possible combinations of Chinese characters that are translated as “neighbor,” but this one specifically connotes anyone you may come across, but doesn’t necessarily live right next to you.